How can I reinstall kubuntu 12.10 + desktop from command line

[Simon]

From what I am reading into this, you are going to the Try option on the Kubuntu Live CD. Then you are using the file manager to drag and drop files from the Live CD on to the existing system HDD?

If this is the fact and you haven't completely boned your system you should try this;

• Live CD Boot
• Install Kubuntu (NOT try)
• When you get to "Installation Type" screen;
• Choose Manual
• Select the root and do NOT format it

The install will warn you that software must be set up manually because your settings will be rewritten. None of your documents will get touched, but it would not hurt to make back up copies. This in essence paints over the grub and system only anything you have (games, apps, and docs) should remain intact. However once more, it would not kill you to download them or make back ups. To ensure and safeguard my system, I partitioned the HHD so the OS is on a 90GB chunk all by itself. Anything I add gets downloaded and installed to the other partition.

Otherwise it would be a heck of a lot simpler to make backups and do a fresh install.

[Bumpalot]

as per vinnywright suggestion - I was able to fire up a install cd/usb and start a live session and copy all my saved files!! What a relief!! Hive now installed kubuntu 12.10 & desktop.

Now having trouble getting Kubuntu to recognise my Logitech Illuminated Keyboard + Mouse combination.
Cannot find any settings in System Settings. KDE Help Center has article on Logitech Mouse Support.
If KDE was built with libusb support there are suggestions available - what does that mean?

[vinnywright]

try becoming root first ,,,,, sudo su -i in a terminal if you get a # for a prompt then you are root ,,,,,now open dolphin from this terminal (just type dolphin and hit enter)and it should work(use split pane view) ,,,,,,,I have never encountered this problem so lets see.

VINNY

[Bumpalot]

I did fire up a ninstall cd kubuntu 12.10 64bit and started a live session.
Opened File Manager to the current installation.
Opened a 2nd File Manager to another usb drive I use for storage.
dragged a folder (containg files)to the 2nd drive. It copied an empty folder!!
Same with copying single files - some copied, some were denied!!
What else would you suggest?

[vinnywright]

Have tried using the Install option of testing,

? what dose this mean ?

you should be able to fire up a install cd/usb and start a live session and copy off anything you like .

VINNY

[Bumpalot]

I'll try sudo dpkg-reconfigure -a if ever I am able to get into Kubuntu!
In the meantime, any ideas how I can copy my personal files to another drive. Have tried using the Install option of testing, -copied a few, but most copy only the folder with no contents! Tried copying contents & it refuses (denied). If I could do this I would just reinstall kubuntu & desktop.

[james147]

Try:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -a

[judedawson]

Hi there,

It appears that you & I have a somewhat similar problem, my friend...

http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthr...oftware-Update

Perhaps there's something in my thread that can give you a clue as to what to do next

I am still working on my laptop...I'm not ready to give up just yet...

From,
Jude

[Bumpalot]

Tried suggestion:
Let it boot up
-blank black screen
Ctrl - Alt- F1
entered name & password
left with prompt bumpy@bumpylinux: ~$

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
- all went ok but ended ing--

Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic
linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic
linux-image-generic
linux-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

kubuntu@kubuntu:/$ sudo apt-get install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
libnotify4 linux-headers-3.5.0-17 linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
4 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic (3.5.0-25.38) ...
Running depmod.
update-initramfs is disabled since running on read-only media
The link /initrd.img is a dangling linkto /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-25-generic
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
update-initramfs is disabled since running on read-only media
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: failed to get canonical path of /cow.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 1
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic.postinst line 1010.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic:
linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic depends on linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic; however:
Package linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-generic:
linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic; however:
Package linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic is not configured yet.
linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic; however:
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
Package linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing linux-image-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic:
linux-generic depends on linux-image-generic; however:
Package linux-image-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing linux-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic
linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic
linux-image-generic
linux-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
kubuntu@kubuntu:/$ sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
kubuntu-desktop is already the newest version.
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
libnotify4 linux-headers-3.5.0-17 linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
4 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
Setting up linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic (3.5.0-25.38) ...
Running depmod.
update-initramfs is disabled since running on read-only media
The link /initrd.img is a dangling linkto /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-25-generic
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
update-initramfs is disabled since running on read-only media
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: failed to get canonical path of /cow.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 1
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic.postinst line 1010.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
kubuntu@kubuntu:/$ apt-get autoremove libnotify4 linux-headers-3.5.0-17 linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13: Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?
kubuntu@kubuntu:/$ sudo apt-get autoremove libnotify4 linux-headers-3.5.0-17 linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
libnotify4 linux-headers-3.5.0-17 linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 3 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
4 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 70.0 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
(Reading database ... 127211 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing libnotify4:amd64 ...
Removing linux-headers-3.5.0-17-generic ...
Removing linux-headers-3.5.0-17 ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
Setting up linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic (3.5.0-25.38) ...
Running depmod.
update-initramfs is disabled since running on read-only media
The link /initrd.img is a dangling linkto /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-25-generic
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
update-initramfs is disabled since running on read-only media
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-25-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: failed to get canonical path of /cow.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 1
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic.postinst line 1010.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic:
linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic depends on linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic; however:
Package linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-generic:
linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic; however:
Package linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic is not configured yet.
linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic; however:
Package linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing linux-image-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic:
linux-generic depends on linux-image-generic; however:
Package linux-image-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing lNo apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure.
No apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure.
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
inux-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic
linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic
linux-image-generic
linux-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
kubuntu@kubuntu:/$

What a mess!!

[oshunluvr]

Try letting it boot then typing CTRL-ALT-F1 to see if you get to a regular terminal.

[Bumpalot]

Thanks for your advice. Will be back with the results!

[james147]

If you want to reinstall, it is easier to do it from the livecd's gui installer rather then command line. However, you might not need to do a complete reinstall if you have a working terminal.

If you are booting directly to a terminal login screen then that suggest that the gui is messed up some how (normally it got removed by accident during an upgrade) to fix this run the following:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

That should update your system to the latest version, fix any broken packages then reinstall the packages needed by kubuntu.

[Bumpalot]

Had kubuntu 12.10 + desktop running fine, but after a massive Muon update, it now boots to a black screen.
Just the cursor shows - nothing else!
Is it possible to reinstall both items from the command line from the Startup Kubuntu tryout screen?
This is my setup, created from the tryout screen:
kubuntu@kubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0008573d

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 976751999 488375968+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0001875f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 2048 959995903 479996928 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 959997950 976771071 8386561 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 959997952 976771071 8386560 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdc: 2000.4 GB, 2000396746752 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 243201 cylinders, total 3907024896 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0003990f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 63 1851025364 925512651 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdc2 1851025365 3907007999 1027991317+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdc5 1851025428 3907007999 1027991286 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
kubuntu@kubuntu:~$

kubuntu@kubuntu:~$ blkid
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: UUID="04D8AE73D8AE6322" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="4bdbaa5d-5e7f-434a-80fd-690e86384319" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="4ec35d81-6772-4d30-9370-b877dff74973" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdc1: LABEL="ClickfreeBk" UUID="E6CC27A3CC276D4D" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdc5: LABEL="Data Storeage" UUID="14FC9FECFC9FC700" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sr0: LABEL="Kubuntu 12.10 amd64" TYPE="iso9660"
kubuntu@kubuntu:~$

Sure would appreciate your suggestions to solve this delema!